Two-way standout gets first offer

Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian has put its fair share of players in the D-I level over the years. In the last two alone, 14 players for Oaks Christian received D-I scholies. This year tight end/defensive end Chris Coyle looks to follow the suit and play D-I football. He already has his first offer on the table.

Coyle earned first-team all-CIF, first-team all-county and first-team all-league as a tight end after accounting for 19 receptions for 264 yards and four touchdowns. He was also a very dominating on the defensive side of ball racking up 60 tackles, 10 sacks, one pick and one pass deflection.

Boise State is the first team to come out of the box with an offer. The word is Washington State could be close to offering as well when he goes up to the Northwest to visit Washington State campus. While in the great northwest, Coyle will visit Oregon and Oregon State.

Coyle was at several spring practices at UCLA and has also visited Arizona and Arizona State.

Oaks Christian head coach Bill Redell has done a great job sending players to the D-I level over the years and he is sure that Boise State won't be Coyle's only offer.

"Chris is a D-I player," Redell said. "The only knock on him is he weighs 220, but isn't a big deal, he has the framed to carry 240 to 250 with ease and not miss a beat.

"Chris defensive end on defense and tight end and sometimes we line him up in the slot on offense," Redell said. "He runs excellent routes, has good hands and runs well after the catch.

"Chris is a good student carrying a 3.8 GPA," Redell said. "He has high character and comes from a great family. He will be a great addition to the program that gets him.

"I think that Chris is in the category of the 14 players we have sent to the D-I level over the past two years," Redell said. "Depending on how big he gets, he could end up as a tight end or play H-back or the slot.

"Boise State wants him to come in if they get him at 240 and play tight end."

Coyle is one of those players who two years down the line has colleges who took a pass on him scratch their collective heads and ask themselves, how in the world did we pass on that guy?

Definitely one who is beginning to see his star start to shine.